Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-02-17
Its not bad said Mark, csreless.

old Lincolnshire family who took
fancy to settle out here. They got to
dabbling in railroad shares. and failed.
The daughters went back to their
friends in England, such s they had.
The father blew his brains out in New
York. The estate wa sold ut fore
closure. I bought it There's the his
tory of Purple Peak farm.
Madeline Vsssar's father sat down
on the old oakcn se,te', and looked
keenly at the tall yonr- farmer. How
glad he would have been if only he
could see into his heart For no father
willingly gives the apple Of his eye to
stranger.
His face anil mien are good, he
told himself. / wonder if his nature
matches it. I wonder low can find
ont
One by one the diI,r.u, members Of
the family dropped in rs he sat talking
with Mark Plinlimmon. Old Mrs.
Plinlimmon was first - mild, white
hair-, matron, with soft, wistful eyes;
then rosy checked brace OF neph
ewe.
Their father and mother are dead,
observed Mark, 80 adopted them, and
Tin" fellows they sre.'
No, bad symptom, said Middle
worth Nupsar 70 himself But of course
mos, people are good to their own kith
and Kin.
And then entered a most ma ratc old
man with long, white hair hanging over
his shoulders, leaning on = cane.
And thl. ia our Uncle Joe, said
Mark, fastening AZ he spoke to yet an
easy chair for the ancient PATRIARCH
Uncle Joe, this is Mr.. Middleworth,
who has come from Portcaster. have
invited him TO stay all night-if you
DO not object:
Uncle Joe waved his hand like an
old prince.
He i. welcomt,' he sid; very well
come, Mark. In fact any friend Of
yours is welcome to Purple Peak farm.
! And then he began to warm himself
at til. blaze and fell into sort Of a
reverie
/ Uncle Joe, whoever h. nigh, be-,
was ev violently person OF .o,ny con1ld-
GRAFTON in the little hol-ehoId. III.
rat ut the head of the little table, and
SAID grace before meat. and had the
varm,at corner. the elS!r, chair. the
mos, tender consideration; and finally
when he trudg"d upstairs t" bed, Ma. k
iutlfullv held the door open for him
TO pass through, and Mr. Middleworth
asked with some interest
Who is tina. old gentleman: He has
a very fine face. OF E rise | know
that he is your uncle
! No, said Mark Plinl aoon, smiling,
ne is not my uncle at a.. He is no
relation in the worlt. t. AZ.
/ Then who does he he. Hng to-
He belongs to nobody. He il a sort
Of cousin to Mr.. PendeXter, the Eng
! lshman who built the house. He went
with the young women to Lincolnshire,
but he was not welcome there. He was
old. YOU see. and penniless. and past
work. SO he came back here and they
put him in the work house. But
think tn shock and all touched his
MUD; and one day we fond hum here
on the steps. I've coue home, he
said. The work house authorities sent
for him. hut wouldn, let him 80
back. He is very old You see and very
feeble; and perhaps they wouldn't BE-
qnltc 40 consiierats of him AZ they
ought. SO here he remains. fancying
that he is the master of Purple Peak
farm and that we are his friends and
V sltors. Hc isn't the least bit Of trou,
bic, bless his kind old soul, Mark add
ed alphabetically; and if it was my
father or yours, alone IN the world
dom you Set
Mr. rlinlimmon yo" are right,
shouted Mr.. Midlleworth astonishing
the young man by jumping up and
wrngins his hand vehemen'y. I'm
quite satisfied now. | know now.
Il beg your pardon, sad Mark, in
some surprise.
About about the relationship, said
Mr.. Middleworth. i confess it puzzled
me A little at first.
He started to return to Nav York
the next day; still he did not divul ge
his rerso hal,ty:
A month subsequently, wh@n Mark
came to the city in response to- joytnl
letter from Madeline. he WAS conducted